Your Home Study

The home study is an evaluative and preparatory process required by state regulation and must be completed before an individual or couple can adopt a child. The end result is a document written by a Barker social worker that includes information drawn from a series of interviews with the prospective parent or parents and supporting information provided by third parties. Generally a home study includes information on the following:

• Family background and references
• Education and employment
• Relationships and social life, including strength of marriage, if applicable
• Finances, including net worth and discretionary income
• Results of criminal and child-protection clearances
• Assessment of physical and mental health, as determined by your physician
• Interviews with your adult children, if applicable
• Interviews with any household member
• Parenting experiences
• Details about your home and neighborhood
• Readiness for adopting and your reasons for wanting to adopt
• Approval and recommendation of children whom your family can best parent

The home study process typically takes a few months to complete and is designed to get to know the prospective parent or parents and assist them in preparing to become parents through adoption. Depending on the specifics of the situation and the family’s directive, the home study results are provided to public child welfare departments, courts, attorneys, licensed partnering adoption agencies, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and/or an overseas social welfare agency.